The British Dental Association
The British Dental Association (BDA) is the professional
association and trade union for dentists in the United Kingdom and
was founded in 1880. It's mission is to:
- promote the interests of its members
- advance the science, arts and ethics of dentistry
- improve the nation's oral health
Membership, which is voluntary, stands at around 23,000. The
majority of members are in general practice, or 'High Street'
practices. It is a complex organisation in that it has four key
roles to play as:
- a service organisation
- a scientific society
- a trade union
- a professional association
A service organisation
The BDA is a service organisation providing a wide
range of individual services to members. The BDA is a membership
organisation and is dependent upon members' subscriptions and the
strength of its membership. Excellent customer service is a
priority and the services to members include the following:
- detailed advice on NHS rules and regulations
- help with individual problems including representation at a
national or international level in contractual disputes with
employers and with NHS Trusts
- help and information on practice management and scientific and
clinical topics
- guidance on employment law, health and safety and ethics
- access to a vast bank of dental literature, Medline searches,
videos and study packs
- meeting other colleagues at national and local BDA meetings and
the annual conference
- excellent free advisory publications and up-to-date information
on the latest issues in dentistry via the British Dental
Journal and the BDA News
A scientific society
The BDA is a scientific society promoting higher standards and
improvements in oral health. The public and media turn regularly to
the BDA for information on dental matters. The BDA provides fact
files on a range of subjects from dental phobia to emergency dental
kits. The British Dental Journal (BDJ) and BDA News keep
dentists up-to-date with the latest issues in dentistry. Other BDA
publications include Launchpad, a journal for dental students and
new graduates
A trade union
The BDA is as a trade union providing collective representation
of the profession in its dealings with the government and employing
authorities
A professional association
The BDA is as a professional association promoting policies
which benefit dental practice and dental care. The BDA works with
the manufacturers of consumer dental health products to improve the
information available to the public about oral health care. The BDA
is also a lobbying organisation. It lobbies parliament and
government on legislation affecting dentists as business people and
clinicians, and on issues such as dental student debt and water
fluoridation. In Europe we lobby the commission and the
European parliament.
The governance of the association follows democratic principles.
A Representative Body with approximately 85
dentist members from around the UK, is elected on a three year
cycle. This body is the most important committee of
the association. At its regular meetings throughout the year,
it receives reports from the Executive Board and the
autonomous committees, representing all the constituant parts of
the profession. It delegates more detailed scrutiny to the
smaller Executive Board, which meets regularly and is the
associations board of directors. The current Chairman of the
Executive Board is Susie Sanderson. The elected officers are
supported by full time professional staff, led by the Chief
Executive.
contact us
on 020 784 32410
Email: info@resourcing.uk.com